Senator d**k Durbin to meet with NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell over bounty scandal
The New Orleans Saints bounty scandal has gotten the attention of football fans and analysts from the day it was first revealed that the franchise ran an illegal pay-for-performance programme. Now though it seems even the politicians are taking notice.
Senator, d**k Durbin of Illinois is set to meet with National Football League (NFL) Commissioner, Roger Goodell on Wednesday to discuss the bounty programme at the Saints and the role of bounties in football in general.
According to the Senator’s office the two will meet for 15 minutes before holding a press conference together.
This is not the first time that someone from the political circles has taken note of the Saints bounty scandal.
Previously it was the Louisiana State Senate which had passed a resolution in May asking Goodell to reconsider his decision of punishing the Saints franchise so harshly and the lawmakers felt that the suspensions handed down were excessive.
Goodell has faced huge criticism from many circles over his handling of the bounty scandal.
The Saints were found to have a bounty programme in place for three seasons spanning 2009-11 and handed out cash to players who successfully injured targeted opponents.
With a pool reaching $ 50,000 former Saints defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams handed out $ 1,000 to $ 1,500 to players who knocked out their opponents or had them carted off the field.
The NFL took stern action and suspended New Orleans Saints head coach, Sean Payton for a year and accused him of lying to NFL investigators about the bounty system.
Goodell also suspended Saints, general manager, Mickey Loomis, for eight games and assistant coach, Joe Vitt for six.
Williams has been banned from coaching indefinitely after he accepted the charges of implementing the bounties during his time in New Orleans.
Goodell next suspended the players involved in accepting money from the bounty pool as well as helping Williams implement it.
The commissioner, suspended Saints linebacker, Jonathan Vilma for a year and defensive end, Will Smith for four games.
He also suspended former Saints players with defensive end, Anthony Hargrove banned for eight games and linebacker, Scott Fujita banned for three.
Goodell on Monday heard appeals filed by the four suspended players about their punishments.
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